Improved rocket-harpoon



T. w. RbYs.

Bomb Lance.

Patented June 3, 1862 Inventor:

m m W MA- win N, PETERS. PHQTO-L'THOGRAPH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS W. BOYS, OF SOUTHAMPTON, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED ROCKET-HARPOON.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,474, dated June 3, 1862.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS W. Boys, of Southampton, in the county of Suffolk, in the State of New York, have invented a new and letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a rocket-barpoon with a cavity loaded or filled with an explosive compound, which will be fired as a bomb by the burning of the rocket, and greatly increase the destructive action of the weapon.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The annexed drawing represents, externally and in section, a rocket-harpoon combined with a bomb according to my invention, and arranged to be used with the shouldergun of my invention patented January 22, 1861; but it is obvious that the bomb and rocket may be combined with a barpoon constructed in the ordinary manner without altering the character of my invention.

A is the point of the harpoon, made with double barbs to cut a cruciform opening or wound, and furnished with jointed wings a a, which close when the barpoon is thrust into a whale and open to resist the removal of the instrument.

B is the cavity of the bomb, filled with explosive material that may be fired by a fuse inserted in the hole 11.

O is the chamber of the rocket. c c are holes at the bottom of the rocket-chamber, through which issues the gas that propels the rocket.

d is the touch-hole by which the rocket material is lighted.

E is the shank of the harpoon, into which are jointed wings c e behind the rocket-chamber, constructed like those on the point of the harpoon to resist its withdrawal.

F is a hook on the shank of the barpoon, with a spring-guard that readily admits the attachment or disengagement of the barpoonline.

Aniron bar, g g, is connected to the head of the barpoon with a pin-joint and' to the shank by a ring, which is too small to slip over the jointed wings or barbs c e.

The bomb may be. loaded through the hole it on removing the barb of the harpoon and the screw-plug.

When the combustible material in the rocketchamber 0 is fired through the touch-hole d the violent issue of the gas through the openings 0 0 propels the harpoon to its destination with sufficient force to bury in the body of the whale beyond the jointed wings or barbs e e, which will be opened by any effort to escape.

The cruciform opening cut by the point A admits the bomb and rocket more readily than a single slit.

When the rocket material has burned nearly outit will ignite the fusein the hole I), and the bomb will be exploded.

If the jointed wings e 0 should fail to perform their office, the instrument will be retained securely in its place, notwithstanding the explosion, by the bar 9 9 connecting the shank E with the point A and its barbs a a.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of aharpoon and rocket with a bomb, substantiallyas described, for the purpose of killing whales.

2. The bargg, connecting the barb of the harpoon with the shank of the rocket and its barbs or wings c e.

THOMAS W. BOYS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM SANDFORD, ISAAC J. SIGLER. 

